I didn't watch the first soap opera of Gabriela (1975). I just have seen some random scenes. But unlike some people I don't see this Gabriela 2012 as a remake of the first 1975 soap opera! I think it's essentially a new adaption to the screen of the Jorge Amado's novel. Proving that we have some characters in the new soap opera that didn't appear in the 1975 version but they really exist on the original novel (CORONEL MANOEL D'AS ONÇAS or DOROTEIA for instance), and even some characters that were created to this version and didn't exist in the novel (LINDINALVA). So, it's a new version, another point of view of the same story!
What I enjoyed the most of this version was the sense of humor and also the sensuality. As said I didn't entirely watch the first soap opera, but by the little scenes I've watched it doesn't seem to have the same funny scenes or the sensual moments we have in this version, not even close! Nudity on TV was certainly a taboo item back to 1975, and the humor by what I've seen is not even comparable to the present soap opera! In fact the humor scenes, which are so many (!) were a great improvement of this 2012 version. The scenes between PROFESSOR JOSUE and GLORIA are priceless, but also the new subplot (this subplot didn't exist in the original novel, not at all!) of the homosexuality of CORONEL AMANCIO, near the end, is to laugh out loud!
About the actors I think the great majority does a good job, but I think Juliana Paes does it very well, playing GABRIELA. As I have seen some people saying I think she has bring a new "personality" to GABRIELA, different from what Sonia Braga did Juliana plays the innocent and the "unconscious about her own beauty" GABRIELA. With her this character is more simple and pure, bringing sensuality on a natural and almost "innocent" way. With Sonia Braga it was not like that. She didn't bring this innocence to the character. She was openly sensual! Besides in this new version all the actions of GABRIELA are very well justified, and we always understand what she thinks and does. In fact I think the director put the viewer on GABRIELA's side when she's caught in bed with TONICO by NACIB. The way she was feeling lonely and "abandoned in her marriage" and the tricks of TONICO are the motives to her fault, more than luxury or desire. So once again it's described here an innocent GABRIELA more than a seductive and guilty one
Some characters and subplots were created in this 2012 version to extend it, LINDINALVA character and all the subplot around her, as mentioned, but also other ones like the subplot around the homosexuality of CORONEL AMANCIO or even the romance between JERUSA and MUNDINHO FALCAO. This romance doesn't exist in the original novel!
One curious detail is that some actors are present in both versions, 1975 and 2012, and some even in the 1983 movie. They do different roles of course. One of them is Jose Wilker which plays MUNDINHO FALCAO in 1975 and CORONEL JESUINO in 2012.
I enjoyed this soap opera very much, and I must say it's the first soap opera I watched from the beginning to the end in years! In fact for a long time I didn't watch a soap opera, either Brazilian or Portuguese
What I enjoyed the most of this version was the sense of humor and also the sensuality. As said I didn't entirely watch the first soap opera, but by the little scenes I've watched it doesn't seem to have the same funny scenes or the sensual moments we have in this version, not even close! Nudity on TV was certainly a taboo item back to 1975, and the humor by what I've seen is not even comparable to the present soap opera! In fact the humor scenes, which are so many (!) were a great improvement of this 2012 version. The scenes between PROFESSOR JOSUE and GLORIA are priceless, but also the new subplot (this subplot didn't exist in the original novel, not at all!) of the homosexuality of CORONEL AMANCIO, near the end, is to laugh out loud!
About the actors I think the great majority does a good job, but I think Juliana Paes does it very well, playing GABRIELA. As I have seen some people saying I think she has bring a new "personality" to GABRIELA, different from what Sonia Braga did Juliana plays the innocent and the "unconscious about her own beauty" GABRIELA. With her this character is more simple and pure, bringing sensuality on a natural and almost "innocent" way. With Sonia Braga it was not like that. She didn't bring this innocence to the character. She was openly sensual! Besides in this new version all the actions of GABRIELA are very well justified, and we always understand what she thinks and does. In fact I think the director put the viewer on GABRIELA's side when she's caught in bed with TONICO by NACIB. The way she was feeling lonely and "abandoned in her marriage" and the tricks of TONICO are the motives to her fault, more than luxury or desire. So once again it's described here an innocent GABRIELA more than a seductive and guilty one
Some characters and subplots were created in this 2012 version to extend it, LINDINALVA character and all the subplot around her, as mentioned, but also other ones like the subplot around the homosexuality of CORONEL AMANCIO or even the romance between JERUSA and MUNDINHO FALCAO. This romance doesn't exist in the original novel!
One curious detail is that some actors are present in both versions, 1975 and 2012, and some even in the 1983 movie. They do different roles of course. One of them is Jose Wilker which plays MUNDINHO FALCAO in 1975 and CORONEL JESUINO in 2012.
I enjoyed this soap opera very much, and I must say it's the first soap opera I watched from the beginning to the end in years! In fact for a long time I didn't watch a soap opera, either Brazilian or Portuguese